Coin chute



July 14, 1942. w. PAT ER 2,289,883

COIN CHUTE Filed April 20, 1938 Mill/am PM 1" ENTOR.

Hi5 ATTORNEY.

Patented July 14, 1942 UN IT E D STATES PAT G F F ICE COIN CHUTE tion of Illinois p on Anril 20, 193.8, cr alNa 2.035026.

Claims. (01,.194-97) This invention pertains to coin testing devices and has as one of its principal objects the pr vision of improved testing means for stoppingdeformed and bent coin elements in coin chutesand the like.

A further object is the provision of testing means for arresting bent coin elements and effecting release of such elements in a. manner to prevent their continued passage through the chute as a result of fraudulent manipulation of the testing means.

Another object is the provision in a coin chute of a movable chute section. and means for moving the same out of alignment with a main chute passage to a discharge position for the purpose r fixed width suitable to stop a bent coin element, but permitting passage of a proper coin element therebetween, together with means. for moving the movable section out of alignment with the main chute passage and separating the relatively movable plate members to Widen the distance therebetween and free the bent coin element.

Still another object is the provision of a movable chute section comprising a pair of spaced plates, one movably mounted on the other, and

spaced so as to form a constriction adequate to stop a bent coin element, but not a proper coin element, and means for moving the pair of plates constituting the movable section out of alignment with the main chute section and eifecting following" description proceeds in view of the drawin inwhichr.

Ri 1 isa de el vation f chu embodying the novel. testing means;

Fig... 2. is afragmen ary. sid ew of he es r in means as. scenirqm t e. Op os sid i he chute. .of: Figs. 1.;

Fig- 3. s. en arged v rt ca ec i alon line 3..- ..of.- Fia. l;

Fi 4 is n enlar ed. f agmen a vertica section s m lar-to i 3, show g the t stin apna atus inisc ar e. no itiqn;

i 5. s a; pers ct ve view o th ompan n plate membe o the movable. ch e e n Fi .1. erspective o t e Op site S de o he ccinpanionrlat ni F i 7 is a ra ment r persp c iew of the upper left-hand side of the coin chute as see in is- 1.-

The. pr s n in nt on pro id s m o e in atype of, coin chute or testing device desc b i a con ed n Un ted. t es a e ..2,23 i.5 dat d Mar h 1 5 ch a oin c ute incl des ama chute body ill (Fig. 1 preferably constructed by assemblins a pa r o cssbfiid ma e H a (Fig- 3), th rla es hav n iq ma iqn n their confronti s surfaces cvidins a Pe -11 and c i ehu ena ase I3 F g-5 a ne n e t c opening M at its upper end, and a plurality of discharge openings. I5 and that its lower end.

Between the entrance l4 and the discharge openings in the'chute, there are provided various t stin inc udin a rebound anvil in the upper portions of the chute passage just a e a sidewis dis a g o en r h which lightweight and undersized tokens may 8 pass sidewise out of the chute and down a disa Separating movement of the two plates dur-' ing this action, so that any bent coin element lodged therebetween will be free to gravitate therefrom.

Yet another object is the provision in a testing device of the class heretofore characterized of a magnetically attractable feeler arranged for cooperation with the movable chute section for the purpose of arresting coin elements having irregular facial contours or perforations.

Other objects reside in the form, construction, arrangement and operation of the parts and mechanism for accomplishing the foregoing objects, together with other features of novelty, all

charge ramp 22 formed on the outside of one of the body plates l- 2 as a part of the casting, there being a cover plate 23 secured over the ramp portions 22' by means such as the screws 24 so that there is thus formed what may i be termed an external or outside discharge passage which terminates at its lower end 25 alongside the reject discharge opening iii of the main chutepassage. At its upper end 26, this of Which will appear more particularly as the external discharge chute is Open to receive ejected coin elements from the special testing means which constitutes-one of the principal features of the present invention, as will hereinafter be d sq b d.

Arranged below the sidewise discharge or dropout opening 2| is a magnetic testing means in theforni of a pair of permanent magnets 30 secured by means of straps 3| to the opposite sides of the main chute body with their pole pieces arranged so as to create a magnetic flux across the main coin passage I3 for the purpose of arresting magnetically attractable elements which may descend that far in the chute, and also for the purpose of affecting the rate of movement of various coin elements preparatory to their encountering a further testing means in the form of adjustable rebound or deflecting members 32 and 33 arranged in the main chute passage below the magnetic means 39 and above the main discharge openings I5 and IS.

The testing means 32 and 33 have knife edges or points 32' and 33' which are engaged variously by different kinds of coin elements subsequent to being influenced by the magnetic means 30 so as to guide such coin elements into one or the other of the discharge openings [5 or l6 dependent upon the physical characteristics of the coin elements and whether or not they are of a type which the testing means is adapted to accept or reject, the opening it constituting a reject opening and the opening l5 constituting an acceptance passage which communicates with a coin drawer or other receiver (not shown).

Ordinarily, coin elements deposited in the opening [4 travel down the passage l3 and strike the anvil 23, and if their characteristics are proper they will bound sufficiently to carry them past the sidewise drop-out opening 21. Should such coin elements be of improper physical characteristics, for example, if they are made of lead, paper, or material other than that of an acceptable coin, the likelihood is very great that they will drop into the opening 2| and into the external discharge chute 23 to gravitate out the discharge opening 25.

If the coin elements succeed in passing the opening 2 1, they continue on down the chute and, assuming they are formed of metallic material, their rate of movement will be slowed up by the magnetic testing means 33, proper coin elements being affected in a particular manner by this latter testing means so as to move between the testing devices 32 and 33 and out the acceptance opening [5, whereas improper coin elements will engage one or both of the testing devices 32 and 33 in a manner to be deflected into the discharge opening it.

The novel testing means of the present invention is arranged in the upper portions of the chute and is particularly effective to arrest bent or deformed coin elements which, in the absence of such an arresting means, are very likely to descend into the lower regions of the coin passage and become wedged therein and put the device out of operation.

In a preferred embodiment of the arrangement, the main chute is provided with a movable passage section including a main gate 35 (Figs. 1 and 3) mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis on a pintle 35 extended between a pair of cars 3'! forming a part of the side plate I I at its upper end, the gate 35 thus being adapted to swing from a normal position wherein it is substantially flush with the main side plate l2, as in Fig. 3, into an offset position away from the chute, wherein it is out of alignment with the main chute passage, as seen in Fi 4.

Attention is called to the fact that the main gate 35 has a pair of offset ears 38 and 39 at its upper end apertured to receive the pintle 36, the

' clearance between the pintle 36 and the aperture in the ear 38 being normal, that is, a relatively close fit, so that that portion of the gate 35 tends to pivot properly in the usual manner on the pintle 36; however, the opposite ear 39 of the main gate 35 is provided with an elongated slot 40 (Figs. 3 and 4) which permits the gate to shift laterally of the pintle upon application of force in a proper direction to that side of the plate, this movement being illustrated in the different positions of the gate shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Yieldable means normally urging the main gate 35 into an initial position flush against the side of the chute as illustrated in Fig. 3, includes a coil spring 44 mounted on a headed pin 45 which extends freely through an opening 46 in the gate and is anchored in the opposite side plate ll so that the gate must bear against the spring 44 in moving into open position. At the opposite side of the main gate 35 there is a similar spring means 41 near the lower marginal portion of the gate. When the gate is in its normal position seen in Fig. 3, it will be observed that the shifting ear 39 thereof is urged to its inward limit against the pintle 36.

Means for effecting opening and closing movement of the gate 35 includes a lever 50 pivotally mounted as at 5| on a bracket suitably attached to the chute body and having an upper end portion arranged to bear against a lug 52 extending from an offset ear 53 on the main gate, the arrangement being such that when the lever is pivoted to cause its upper end portion to bear against the lug 52, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the main gate 35 will be pivoted out of its normal position and out of alignment with the main chute passage.

Completing the movable passage section is a companion plate 55 (see also Figs. 5 and 6) which is yieldably mounted on the main gate by means extending through ears 56 and 58 (Fig. 2) in the companion plate so as to hold the latter in a normal position with respect to the main gate 35 and thereby provide a passage. A pin means 5'! provided with a spring 51 similar to the springs means 4445 of Fig. 3 is provided for each of the ears 56 and 58 to mount the companion plate 55 for floating movement on the main gate, thus permitting a limited degree of movement between the companion plate and the main gate.

The companion plate 55 has an inwardly offset section 59 (Fig. 5), from a vertical edge portion of which extends a pair of ears 60 each apertured to receive headed pin means 6| extending freely through the main gate into the companion plate, there being coil springs 62 between the headed portions of the pins BI and the main gate which tend to draw the companion plate to the limit of its inward movement against the main gate, thus disposing the offset section 59 in a normal spaced position at a predetermined distance from the main gate, which distance is calculated to permit the passage between the oifset section 59 and opposite portions of the main gate or plate 35 of proper coin elements, bent coin elements becoming wedged between the offset portion 59 and the main gate so that their progress down the chute is arrested.

By proper manipulation of the scavenging lever 50, the main gate may be swung into the discharge position of Fig. 4 so as to move the coin passage formed between the same and the companion plate 55 out of alignment with the main coin passage l3.

Arparticular feature of the invention resides in the fact that the foregoing arrangement permits the upper, end, of. the movable chute, Dassage section to be thrown out of alignment slightly in advance of the lower end thereof by virtue of the shiftable mounting of. the ear 39 on the pintle 36, the arrangement being such that as soon as an outwardly directed effort is appliedto. the lug 52 (Figs. 1, 3, 4), the end of the main gate nearest the lever 50 is shifted laterally of the pintle 35 against the compression of the spring 4 and as soon as this lateral shifting is completed (occurring very rapidly), the main gate begins pivotal movement relative to the pintle 36 with further Compression of the spring M on pin 45 and the spring (not shown) on the lower pin 41.

During the aforesaid initial movement of the main gate, the companion plate 55 does not move relative to the main plate member, so that a bent coin wedged in the movable passage section constituted by these plate members is not dislodged during the initial movement of the gate but is moved out of alignment with the main coin passage l3.

Substantially at the time the main movable ch'ute section or gate 35 begins its positive pivotal movement on the pintle 35, the companion plate member 55 is caused to separate from the main, gate member by virtue of the provision of an offset lug 55. (Fig. 6) on the side of the offset section 55 of the companion plate. This lug 65 is positioned to move into a slot '6. cut in the main chute plate I l adjacent the margin, of an opening cast therein and through which the plate 55 moves. The initial outward movement of the main gate plate 35 causes movement therewith of the comp-anion plate, and substantially at the time the main gate begins tinguished from shifting) the offset lug 65 is urged against the bottom of the slot 616 so that further movement of the companion plate with the main plate is prevented at that end of the companion plate where the lug 65 is mounted, it being recalled that the spring means '62 yieldingly attach the vertical edge portion of thecompanion plate nearest, the lug55 to the main gate. Moreover, it will be recalled that the pin means 5] which attaches the companion plate to the m n a s o P id d wi h spring means. 5 similar to, the means 62.

Thus, itwill appear that after the main gate 35 moves a predetermined distance toward open position, the companion plate 55 is prevented from following with the main gate by the lug means 55, with the result that the main gate continues its outward movement and thus separates from the companion plate, widening the space therebetween and freeing a bent coin element wedged'therebetween, the lower end of the companion plate, however, tending to follow the main plate due to its rigid connection at the car 56, and hence throwing the lower end of the companion plate farther out of'alignment with the main chute passage than the upper end. This arrangement assures that when the bent coin element is freedby such separation of the plates constituting the movable passage section, the lower end of this movable passage section, and lower end of the companion plate, will be thrown far enough out of alignment with the main that it will be impossible to continue its passage on down the chute, such coin element being positively guided back or outer its proper pivotal movement (as disthe result that for. gravitating movement sidewise out of the main chute into the external discharge ram-p or passage 23 for ultimate discharge from the opening thereof.

Additional testing means includes a permanent bar magnet 10 (Fig. 2) mounted on a strap H on the main body plate II by means of screws 12 extending, into the latter, the magnet being disposed with its length extending sidewise par allel to the. main chute passage just below the entrance l4, it being observed that an appreciable portionof, the magnet 10 lies behind the offset portion 59. of the companion gate plate. This gate plate is preferably made from a non magnetic but. electroeconductive.material, such as hardened copper or phosphor bronze, so that the companion plate will have a degree of resiliency of its own tofurther expedite throwing the lower end thereof out of. alignment, the electroeconductive. characteristic thereof being useful in affecting the movement of coin elements therepast due. to eddy currents set up by the magnet 13 in the coin and. plate 55.

Cooperating withthe last-.mentioned magnetic testing means is .a feeler of magnetically attractable wire or the like clamped between its end portions in a pivoted clip 15 arranged to pivot on a pin 15 carried by and extending fro-m a small lug 16 attached to the main gate plate, the feeler having a lower end portion 11 attracted by the magnet Iii through an upper sidewise drop-out opening 18 formed in the main gate plate and extending in a descending sense collaterally with the adjoining chute passage, this opening 18 being slightly less in width than the diameter of a proper coin, so that coin elements of less than a predetermined diameter will drop sidewise out of the movable chute passage sectionyinto the external discharge ramp, the floor of the chute passage underlying the movable chute section particularly opposite the opening 18 being pitched to facilitate such sidewise discharge movement of a coin elemen The lower end portion H of the feeler is attracted by the magnet Iii against the offset surface 59 of the companion gate plate at a point close to the upper end of the drop-out opening 18, while the upper end IQ of the feeler lies bu hind an arm 86. The arm has its right end portion (Fig. l) disposed through an aperture 85 formed in the main gate plate and is fixedly attached to the plate H to provide an abutment against which the upper end of the feeler bears when the movable passage section is open, with the feeler is pivoted away from the offset surface 59 of the comp-anion plate to release any apertured or other irregular coin element into which the feeler has engaged as a result of its attraction by the magnet Iii. Not only is the foregoing arrangement of the feeler and offset plate portion 59 efiective to arrest apertured coin elements but many coin elements having unusual irregularities in surface configuration, such as variously inscribed or engraved tokens, are likewise effectively stopped by the feeler to be ejected when the main gate is opened as aforesaid.

A preferred form of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, and itwill be appreciated that the numerous objects and advantages of the invention may be accomplished by other forms of construction and functional arrangements of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention which is. therefore not limited by any specific detail of form, location or operation of the coin moved out of alignment in advance of the retesting means hereinbefore described, except as maining portions of said gate, an opening formed may be expressly provided in the appended in the gate, a feeler pendantly supported on said claims. gate and having a magnetically attracted end Having thus described my invention, what I 5 portion extending through said opening in said claim as new and desire to protect by Letters gate across the moveable passage, magnetic Patent is: means arranged on the stationary portion ad- I. In a coin chute, means providing a stationjacent the companion plate in a position to atary portion having a coin passage formed therein, tract said end portion of the feeler toward the and having a moveable passage section comprisl0 companion plate, said feeler yielding to contact said move-able Wall membe s havlng an Openi the coin to engage formations thereon as a result formed therein, a m a y attractable Bl r of the aforesaid attraction, said feeler having an mounted on said one of said moveable wall memopposite end portion extending radially of said tial withdrawal of said magnetically attracted passage between said wall portions engaging said member feeler and moving the same so that said end por- 4' In a col-n chute, means providing a descend tion bears against a side of the coin element, said mg coin passage having an entrance at its upper end For tion of the ffaeler engaging the Surface end and an exit at its lower end and a movable formations on certam m elements to arret passage section between said ends, said movable the same, means for effecting movement of said passage Section including a pair of normally moveable passage section out of normally aligned spaced wall sections defining a passage portion position, and means coacting with said feeler to therebetween and arranged and mounted for a predetermined amount out of alignment.

2. In a coin chute, the combination with a relatively stationary passage section of a movable passage section normally disposed in alignmeans forming a part of said mounting means of said movable passage section and permitting lateral movement of said movable passage section in advance of pivotal movement thereof, means for effecting movement of said movable passage the movable passage section.

5. In a coin chute, the combination with a movement relative to each other from a normally said stationary passage section and adapted to with one of said wall members for restraining the movable passage section. ed to engage the stationary passage section when 3 In a Coin chute, tationary portion prosaid wall sections are moved a predetermined viding a fixed coin passage, a, gate member d amount, whereby to widen portions of said movtionary portion, said gate member being arranged influence the movement of coins therein when movable passage when said opposite wall members are moved to widen portions of said movable passage as aforesaid and arranged to release arrested coins when said movable section is moved a predetermined amount out of normally aligned condition.

WILLIAM PATZER. 

